Legacy Giving

Our church provides many ways to share accumulated resources or future earnings that can help secure a healthy legacy for our congregation and the mission of our church, through the generations.

Is there anything in your will to show you are a Christian?

Bequest by Will or Living Trust

The most common form of deferred or planned gift is a charitable bequest.  A will or living trust is a very personal matter and should be prepared with an attorney.

If you have a will and would like to amend it to add Fort Hill Church it can be done with a simple, inexpensive addition or supplement, called a codicil.  In fact, Fort Hill member, Rinne Cannon, or Cannon & Cannon, has agreed to prepare these codicils for church members at no charge.

Gifts with Retained Interest

By retaining an interest in your gift, you can continue to hold certain rights in it until it is conveyed to Fort Hill.  When you make such a gift, you have the pleasure of knowing that plans you make today will eventually help support the church and programs that have been especially important to you.

Life Income Gifts

With gifts such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, the donor makes an irrevocable gift and receives income for either life or a specified term of years.  When the specified period ends, the remaining amount goes to the church.

Charitable Lead Trust

This type of charitable trust pays Fort Hill a fixed amount or percentage of an asset for a term of years.  Thereafter, the assets are passed on to your loved ones.

What are other ways to make a legacy gift to Fort Hill?

Gifts of Cash

This is the most common and often the simplest gift to make.

Outright Gifts

Outright gifts are transfers of cash, securities, or other property.  Because they immediately go to work, outright gifts have a direct impact on church programs.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities

Long term appreciated securities can provide special tax advantages.  These include a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the gift and avoidance of capital gains taxes.

Retirement Plan Gifts

You may wish to designate the church as the primary or contingent beneficiary of a private pension fund (e.g. IRA, SEP, 401(k), 403(b), profit sharing plan).  Simply designate Fort Hill Endowment Fund, or Pansy Duke Scholarship Fund, or Fort Hill Presbyterian Church Unrestricted Gift as beneficiary on your "Beneficiary Designation" form.

Gifts of Real Estate

Gifts of real property can receive the same tax treatment as gifts of appreciated securities.

Gifts in Kind

You may wish to give a personal possession of special interest.  Special tax rules apply to such gifts, so it is important to discuss such a gift with your tax counsel.

Memorial or Tribute Gifts

A cash gift may be donated in memory or honor of a friend or loved one.  The family of the deceased, or person honored, will be notified of such gifts.

Gifts of Life Insurance

You may want to consider naming Fort Hill as beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

What giving options do I have at Fort Hill?*

1. Endowment Fund (local and global outreach programs and missions)
2. Pansy Duke Scholarship Fund (support to those seeking God's will for their lives)
3. Unrestricted Gifts (permits the church to use your gift where the need is greatest and allows the Session to respond to changing needs as they arise)

* It is important to note that gifts or beneficiary designations to the Endowment Fund or Pansy Duke Scholarship Fund must be specifically noted as such.  Gifts or beneficiary designations to "Fort Hill Presbyterian Church" will fall into the unrestricted gifts category.

How can I get more information?